Detonating signal for railway-trains.



No. 761,214. PATENTBD MAY 31, I904.

- I. J. ERRIGK. DETONATING SIGNAL FOR RAILWAY TRAINS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1904. no MODEL.

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No. 7:31am.

tamed May 31, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK J. ERRIOK, OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO MICHAEL MESNER, OF

YORK.

NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW

DETONATING SIGNAL FOR RAILWAY-TRAINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 761,214, dated May 31, 1904.

Application filed Mai-ch25, 190A.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. ERRIOK, a citi- -zen of the United States, residing at North Tonawanda, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Detonating Signals for Railway-Trains, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a detonating signal for railways of that kind in which a magazine, holder, or carrier is operated when it is desired to signal a train tov place a torpedo or detonator in operative relation with a firing device, the firing device being operated by a passing train to explode the detonator.

The objects of the invention are to produce a signal apparatus of simple, desirable, and efficient construction in which the magazine is positively operated to feed the detonator by the Signalman and in which the firing device can also be shifted into and out of firing position by the Signalman when necessary without disturbing the magazine or detonatorholder.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a detonating signal embodying the invention, showing a portion of arailroadtrack by broken lines. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation thereof on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation thereof in line 3 3, Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the parts in a different position. Fig. 5 is a frangmentary horizontal Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation in line 6 6, Fig. 5, showing the detent for holding the magazine.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents a casing or box which is secured adjacent to the railroad-track on the projecting end of one of the track-ties or other suitable support or base and closes and protects the detonators and their feeding and firing mechanism from dirt, water, and ice. The casing is preferably cylindrical in form and may be constructed and secured in place in any convenient manner. The casing is pro Serial No. 199,974. (No model.)

vided with an opening closed by a slide or other door a.

a B represents the detonator magazine holder or carrier, which is preferably in the form of a circular disk or wheel arranged horizontally and capable of rotation in the bottom of the casing and is provided near its periphery with a circular series of chambers b, in which a pluralityof detonators are placed and retained. The detonators are exploded in these pockets, which are provided with suitable vent-holes b for the escape of the gases due to the explosion.

' O represents an operating-shaft which is journaled in suitable bearing-holes in the'top and bottom of the inclosing casing and passes loosely through a central hole in the magazine, thereby serving as an axle or journal about Which the'magazine turns. vided at its upper end with an arm 0, connected to a rod 0 or other connection leading to the signal-tower and connected with the usual operating lever or device. (Not shown.) It is customary to connect the detonating signalwith the ordinary semaphore-arm, so that when the latter is thrown to danger position the detonating signal will be operated to place a detonator in position to be fired by the train which is to be signaled, and it will be understood that the rod or connection 0' is intended to be similarly connected with the semaphore, which it is not necessary to show in the drawings.

The shaft is pro- 1) represents a combined firing device jor lever and device for turning the magazine. lt is arranged radially in the inclosing casingA and is pivotally connected at its inner end to the operating-shaft Oin any suitable manner, whereby it is swung horizontally with the shaft and is allowed to swing vertically toward moved into firing position. \Vhen the firinglever is in firing position, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, its outer or free end is located beneath the end of a lever E, which is-preferably pivoted outside of the inclosing casing on a suitable support or stand 0, with its inner end projecting into the inclosing casing through a hole or slot 0 in its side wall. The lever E constitutes a part of a track device comprising another lever or part, F, connected thereto and pivoted on the stand or support 6, with an end or portion thereof arranged adjacent to the track-rail in position to be engaged and depressed by the wheels of a passing train. The inner end of the lever E and the end of the track-lever adjacent to the rail are normally raised by a suitable spring f, which bears against the lever F. The construction and arrangement of the track device are such that when the track-lever F is depressed by the wheels of the train the inner end of the other lever, E, will also be depressed and will ing-pin is held down in the chamber of the magazine by a latch or dog Gr, which is preferably pivoted to the side of the inclosing casing A adjacent to the free end of the firinglever and is pressed toward the latter by a suitable spring 9, so that when the firing-lever is fully depressed it is engaged and held down by a tooth or portion of the latch. I

H is a switch or gate which is pivoted on the side wall of the inclosing casing and is pressed downwardly by a suitable spring 71. against a stationary track or guide I, secured to the side of the inclosing casing in line with the switch or gate. The forward end of the stationary guide is beveled or inclined at z',

and the ad j acent end of the switch is also preferably inclined so that the top faces of the switch and guide are flush and form a continuous horizontal guide-face for the end of the firing-lever. The point of the beveled front end of the stationary guide depends below the bottom edge of the switch and is on a plane below the lower face of the end of the firinglever in a depressed position of the latter.

After a detonator has been exploded the switchman operates the connecting-rod c and turns the shaft C to place another detonator in firing position at the same time that the semaphore-arm which is connected to said rod is lowered from danger position. The firing-lever is turned with the shaft, and as its firing pinprojects into the chamber in the magazine the latter is also turned. Before the end of the firing-lever passes from beneath the tooth of its catch it moves under the pivoted switch, which holds it down until it engages the inclined face of the stationary guide and rides up onto the upper face of the track, the switch lifting to'permit the passage of the firing-lever. The inclined face of the stationary guide thus gradually raises the firing-pin out of the detonator-chamber of themagazine; but the pin is not fully retracted until the magazine is turned far enough to bring another chamber, with its detonator, into firing position. 7c is a stop on the casing which is engaged by the firing-lever to limit the movement thereof and of the magazine. A new detonator is thus placed in firing position; but the firing-lever is not in firing position over the same, and to return the lever to such position the operating-rod is moved to turn the shaft C and firing-lever in the opposite direction. In this return movement of the lever its outer end rides on the top edge of the switch and passes beneath the inner end of the lever E of the track device, in which position the lever is arrested by any suitable stop. As the end of the firing-lever engages the latch G about opposite to its pivot, the latchjperforms the function of a stop for the return movement of the lever. After the magazine has been moved and the firing-lever moved up between the switch and guide the lever is free to be moved back and forth into and out of firing relation without disturbing the magazine, and if for any reason it is not desired. to signal a train after the parts are set for firing the firing-lever is moved by its operating rod and shaft out from beneath the lever E of the track device. The firing-lever can be again returned to firing position whenever it is desired to signal a train.

L, Figs. 5 and 6, represents a detent for arresting the movement of the magazine when a chamber with a new detonator is in correct position for firing and for holding the magazine stationary in such position. The detent shown consists of a bent lever having a substantiall y horizontal arm pivoted intermediate of its ends on a post Z, depending from the top of they inclosing casing, and a depending arm the end of which is normally projected into one of a circular series of holes Z in the magazine by a suitable spring l between the detent a and the top of the casing. The free end of the horizontal arm of the detent projects toward and underlies the firing-lever when the latter is in firing position, as shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 6. The end of the horizontal arm of the detent is depressed by the downward movement of the firing-lever to explode the detonator, thereby lifting its depending arm and freeing the magazine. When the firinglever is moved to turn the magazine, it passes off of and releases the detent, so that its depending portion rides on the upper face of the magazine until the next hole Z arrives beneath it and it is projected thereinto by its spring Z The holes Z are so disposed relative to the detonator-chambers that the latter will be successively held in correct firing position by the engagement of the detent in the successive holes.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of a movable magazine for the detonators, a firing device which is operated by a passing train to explode the detonators, and manually .operated means for positively moving saidfiring device to move said magazine, substantially as set forth.

. 2. The combination of a movable magazine for the detonators, 'a firing device which is operated by a passing train to explode the detonators, and manually-operated means for positively movingsaid firing device to move said magazine, said firing device being also movable into and out'of firing position independently of said magazine, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a movable magazine for the detonators, a track device which is operated by a passing train, a firing device actuated by said track device to explode the detonators, and manuallyoperated means for positively moving said magazine and for positively moving said firing device into and out of operative relation to said track device, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a firing device which is operated by a passing train, a inovabledevice for placing the detonators in position to be exploded by said firing device, and man' ually-operated means for moving said firing device to positively move said movable placing device for the detonators, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of amovable magazine for the detonators, a track device Which is operated by a passing train, a firing device which is moved by said track device to connect it with said magazine and to explode the detonators, and manually-operated means for positively moving said firing device and magazine, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a rotatable magazine having chambers for the detonators, a track device, a firing-lever having a firing-pin which is moved by said track device into one of said chambers of the magazine, and means for moving said firing-lever and magazine and for moving said firing-lever into operative relation to said track device independently of said magazine, substantially as set forth.

7 The combination of a rotatablemagazine having chambers for the detonators, a track device, a firing-lever having a firing-pin which is moved by said track device into one of said chambers of the magazine, means for moving said lever, and means for holding said firingpin in said chamber when the lever is moved device, a latch for holding said lever in'en gagement with said magazine, means for moving said firing-pin and magazine, and a guide consisting of a stationary and movable part Which retracts said lever from and holds it out of engagement with said magazine, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of a rotatable magazine having chambers for the detonators, a track device, a firing-lever which is moved into en gagement with said magazine by said track device, a latch for holding said lever in engagement with said magazine, means for moving said firing-pin and magazine a guide consisting of a stationary and movable part which retracts said lever from and holds it out of engagement with said magazine, and a detent for holding said magazine and which is retracted bysaid. lever, substantially as set.

forth.

10. The combination of a rotatable magazine having chambers for the detonators, a track device, a firing-lever having a firing-pin .which is moved by said track device into one FRANK J. ERRIGK.

Witnessesi EDWARD (J. HARD, C. M. BENTLEY. 

